US M1951 Entrenching Tool

I have this US M1951 entrenching tool which has para-cord tied through the hole in the end of the wooden handle. So far I have left the para-cord in place because I thought that it may have been added during it's service life? But was this a normal practice, for some reason, to tie para-cord through the handle or perhaps it's a later civilian addition?

I was also wondering about the flap and canvas/leather reinforcement to the carrier but a internet search would seem to say these were for carrying a bayonet on the outside of the carrier.

Yes, bayonet outside. You can even see the odd pic of it. The cord would get hung up on everything you can near in military life.

I have one here for domestic use and have a line in the handle hole for hanging it up on a nail between use.

You look back and find Ames made iron works as far back as the US civil war...swords and such.

The e-tools were issued without the tie-down cord. As Jim said, the cord has a tendency to catch and hold on every piece of brush. The shovel side is tried and true but the pick side would break with the slightest hard soil. The bayonet attachment was ok but if the e-tool was on the ruck then the bayonet was out of reach (not that we ever practiced or used bayonet charges).

BEAR

Thanks for the replies, chaps. Does anyone know what the 2 holes are for in the shovel blade, please?